South Side athletes head to state

By David Hinojosa :
April 29, 2014

Sam Houston's Tashonna Williams approaches the finish line during UIL state in 2012. She's back at state this year.

Photo By Photos by Marvin Pfeiffer/ Southside Reporter

Harlandale's Andres Garcia throws the shot put at the regional track and field meet Friday. He won the wild card spot for state.

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Boerne Champion's Andrew Tankersley (right) takes the lead in the 4A 3200-meter run during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Tankersley won the event with a time of 9:21.52. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Boerne Champion's Andrew Tankersley (right) points to the sky after crossing the finish line in the 4A 3200-meter run during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Tankersley won the event with a time of 9:21.52. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Smithson Valley's Devin Clark (left) follows closely behind New Braunfels' Paige Hofstad midway through the 5A 3200-meter run during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Clark won the event with regional record time of 10:27.13. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Smithson Valley's Devin Clark (right) approaches the finish line ahead of New Braunfels' Paige Hofstad (left) in the 5A 3200-meter run during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Clark won the event with regional record time of 10:27.13. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Chris Myers of Holmes (right) relaxes after winning the 5A 3200-meter run ahead of New Braunfels Canyon's Alex Rogers (left) during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Myers won the event with a time of 9:13.42. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

MacArthur's Sarea Alexander lands in the pit in the 5A triple jump during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Aleander took gold in the event with a leap of 39 feet, 8 1/2 inches and also won the 5A long jump with a jump of 18 feet, six inches. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

New Braunfels' Sara Kathryn Stevens takes gold in the 5A pole valt during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Northeast Heral

Wagner's Christopher Ward leaps into the pit in the 5A long jump during Friday's Region IV-5A and IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium. Ward won the 5A event with a jump of 22 feet, 11 inches.

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Reagan's Ty Summers lands in the pit in the 5A long jump during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Friday, April 25, 2014. Summers finished third in the event with a jump of 22 feet, 3 1/4 inches. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer / Southside Reporter

Brackenridge's Tevis Thomas, right, stretches toward the finish line and a second-place finish in the 4A 100-meter dash during the regional track meet at Heroes Stadium on Saturday. At left is Lockhart's Shanice Manning and Brennan's Deana Richardson is at center. Richardson took first with 12.26 seconds; Thomas had 12.41 seconds.

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Brandi Williams-Beck of Brennan crosses the finish line in the 4A 400-meter relay during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Saturday, April, 26 2014. Brennan won the event with a time of 48.35 seconds to help them capture the 4A girls team title at the meet. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Judson's Kiana Horton (right) crosses the finish line of the 5A 1600-meter relay during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Saturday, April, 26 2014. Judson took the 5A girls team title at the meet. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Steele's Denley Bryson (from left) and Justin Stockton approach the finish line with Laredo Alexander's Mark Lozoya in the 5A 100-meter run during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Saturday, April, 26 2014. Bryson won the event with a time of 11.04 seconds while Stockton was third in 11.12 seconds. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Judson's Kiana Horton (center) takes off from Dominque Allen (right) on the anchor leg of the 5A 1600-meter relay during the Region IV-5A and Region IV-4A track and field meets at Heroes Stadium on Saturday, April, 26 2014. Judson took the 5A girls team title at the meet. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

It took a couple of days, but Harlandale junior Andres Garcia found out Sunday he had qualified for the UIL State Track and Field Championships.

Garcia finished third in the boys shot put on Friday at the Region IV-4A meet at Heroes Stadium with a personal-best distance of 54 feet, 7 inches.

The top two finishers in each event from Texas' four regions automatically qualify for state for a total of eight. However, the UIL also calls up a ninth participant — a wild card — for the state meet. The wild card has the best third-place distance or time among the four regions. Garcia's distance was the best third-place mark in the 4A regional meets.

“I'm proud that I got a PR, but I could have done better,” Garcia said Friday. “I still feel proud of my performance.”

“I felt happy because I was with a lot of good competitors, and I'm proud to be in a group with them,” Garcia said.

Garcia will be among the four South Side entrants in the state meet. Brackenridge junior Tevis Thomas qualified in the 4A girls 100; Sam Houston sophomore Jonathan Challenger in the 3A boys 200, Sam Houston's Tashonna Williams in the girls 400 and Sam Houston in the girls 400 relay.

Thomas returns to the state meet for the second time after qualifying as a freshman. Thomas finished second to Brennan's Deana Richardson in the 100. Richardson won with a 12.26 and Thomas was second with 12.41. Thomas nearly qualified in the 200, but finished third.

Challenger finished second in the 3A boys 200 behind Columbus' Royce Caldwell at the Region IV-3A meet held at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville. Challenger had a time of 22.20, while Caldwell had a 21.59.

Williams qualified in two events — the 400 dash and as part of the Hurricanes' 400 relay. Williams finished second to Wharton's Acacia Watson in the 400 dash. Williams recorded a 59.22 and Watson had a 58.31.